Starbucks Opens Coffee Culture Experience Hub in Guangzhou’s HI

If you’ve ever walked into a mall and thought ‘there’s nothing here I actually want,’ Guangzhou’s newest lifestyle destination might change your mind. Opened inside the city’s well-known Grandview Mall, HI breaks the mold of conventional department stores by focusing exclusively on small-batch, design-led goods rather than mass-market products or luxury imports.

In a space spanning more than 6,000 square metres, HI offers over 98% unique brands you won’t find elsewhere in the city—including a new Starbucks Coffee Culture Experience Hall that rethinks how coffee shops engage with customers. That makes it a must-visit for anyone interested in curated retail and specialty coffee experiences.

What Is HI and Why Is It Different?

Located on the fourth floor of Guangzhou’s Grandview Mall, HI opened for a soft launch yesterday. Rather than selling traditional department store fare, HI stocks a carefully selected range of goods across categories like books, homeware, tableware, bath products, textiles, food, and gardening. Every item is chosen for its design quality, craftsmanship, and human-centred appeal—no fast fashion or global luxury labels here.

The store stocks items priced from just ¥30 up to several thousand, with a focus on supporting independent designers and small-scale producers. In total, HI occupies more than 6,000 square metres, and 98% of its brands are exclusive to this location—meaning almost everything you see is unique to this store within Guangzhou.

What Kinds of Products Will You Find There?

Step inside and you’ll find a thoughtfully edited selection across several lifestyle categories:

• Books – including design, lifestyle, and niche titles
• Tableware & Kitchenware – handmade ceramics, glassware, and utensils
• Textiles & Bath – fabrics, towels, and bathroom accessories with design emphasis
• Garden & Home Decor – plants, tools, and home accents
• Food Items – artisanal and small-batch consumables

Unlike malls that simply stack international luxury names, HI curates its inventory for aesthetic cohesion and tactile pleasure. Every item is meant to be both beautiful and usable—appealing to customers who value design as much as function.

Why Is Starbucks Opening a Coffee Culture Experience Hall Here?

One of the most talked-about tenants set to open at HI is Starbucks—but not as you know it. The coffee giant is launching a dedicated “Coffee Culture Experience Hall” inside the store, a format that differs significantly from its standard café locations across Guangzhou.

While details on the exact programming inside the Experience Hall remain limited, the concept suggests a more immersive approach to coffee education, tastings, or brand engagement—positioning it as a cultural destination rather than just a quick caffeine stop. Its placement within HI further enhances that positioning, embedding coffee within a broader world of design, lifestyle, and curated retail.

This isn't just another Starbucks outlet—it's expected to offer something closer to a branded café-laboratory, reflecting Starbucks' ongoing experiments with retail formats that go beyond drinks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HI and where is it located?

HI is a lifestyle retail concept store located on the fourth floor of Grandview Mall in Guangzhou. It focuses on small-batch, design-led goods rather than traditional department store fare, offering a carefully curated selection across categories like homeware, books, tableware, textiles, food, and gardening.

How big is HI and how many unique brands does it have?

HI spans over 6,000 square metres and features a product selection where 98% of its brands are not available at any other retailer in Guangzhou, making it highly distinct within the local retail landscape.

What kind of products can shoppers find at HI?

Shoppers can discover items across various lifestyle categories including books, kitchenware, tableware, textiles, bath products, garden goods, and food—all selected for their design quality, functionality, and appeal to conscious consumers. Prices range from around ¥30 to several thousand yuan.

What makes the Starbucks location at HI different?

The Starbucks at HI will operate as a “Coffee Culture Experience Hall,” which is a new concept for the city. Unlike standard Starbucks cafés, this location is expected to offer a more immersive, cultural, and possibly educational coffee experience, though specific details on its programming are yet to be confirmed.

Is HI just another luxury mall shop?

No. HI deliberately avoids luxury branding or mass-market appeal. Instead, it stocks independent designer goods, small-batch items, and design-focused products aimed at customers looking for authenticity, craftsmanship, and unique aesthetics over logo-driven purchases.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for a Design-Driven Café Space

For a retail space like HI that celebrates design and curation, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera highlights the elegance of Ethiopian heirloom coffees with notes of bergamot, blueberry, and honey. Their Yirgacheffe offers bright citrus, floral tones, and a juicy body—perfect for pairing with lifestyle and design offerings. For something richer yet balanced, try their PWN Golden Mandheling with notes of dark chocolate, baked apple, and cinnamon. All beans are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.